Will aluminum foil hurt my oven as an oven liner?

Many people line the bottoms of their ovens with aluminium foil, since this heat-resistant material can keep food and other materials off the oven surface. However, lining an oven with aluminium foil may be detrimental in the long run.

Other People Are Reading

Heat Damage

Lining an oven with aluminium foil can cause heat damage or affect oven performance. According to Premier Electric & Gas Ranges, a sheet of foil can be used in electric ovens, as long as it does not touch the element. Reynolds Products, a major producer of aluminium foil, recommends against using foil to line ovens.

Air Circulation

Aluminium foil can also hurt air circulation in an oven, especially when used to line entire racks. Covering an oven rack completely with foil reduces circulation and causes cooking problems.

Solution

While lining the oven itself does not work well, you can still use foil to catch drips. Simply place a loose sheet of foil, edges turned up, on the rack directly under cooking food. Remove the foil after use.